Tape motion for shuttleless looms



Dec. 1, 1964 R. H. BROWN, JR., ETAL 3,159,184

TAPE MOTION FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13, 1962*m in; ii;

' INVENTOR.

RALPH H. BQQWNJR IEQYANDBLL FSAMIDLJZ A TTORNE Y Dec. 1, 1964 R. H.BROWN, JR. ETAL 3,159,184

TAPE MOTION FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed Nov. 13, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR RALPH I-I. BROWN JR $ANDELL FSAMFLE A TTORNEY Dec. 1, 1964 R.H. BROWN, JR., ETAL 3,159,184

TAPE MOTION FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed Nov. 1s,' 1962 s Sheets-Sheet sINVENTOR QALIDH H BQOWN JR. QANDELL. F. SAMF LJ;

3 7 maW A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,159,184 TAPE MOTIGN FORSHUTTLELESS LOQMS Ralph H. Brown, in, Ashiand, and Randell F. Sample,Hopedale, Mass, assignors to Draper Corporation, Hopedaic, Mass, acorporation of Maine Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 237,260 8 Claims.(@l. 139-122) This invention pertains to an improvement in shuttlelesslooms of the type wherein filling is drawn from an outside source andplaced in warp shed by flexible inserting members such as tapes and,more particularly, to a means for holding a tape in closed contact withthe surface of the wheel by which it is driven.

It is a general object of the invention to restrain the flexible tapefrom any radial motion away from the tape wheel while being inserted orwithdrawn from the warp shed.

A further object is to devise a tape wheel to drive and retract aflexible tape without requiring the use of tape rollers or restrainingshoes or pads.

A further object of the invention is that of reducing the amount offriction and heat generated by eliminating the use of the aboverestraining mean-s.

A more specific object is that of reducing the power requirementspreviously used in overcoming tape friction.

Another object of the invention is the reduction in wear of the tapewheel drive mechanism by lessening the tape drag.

Another more specific object is to obtain a better weaving condition, asa reduction in heat allows truer control of tape settings at the fillingtransfer point.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as furtherdetails are disclosed.

Shuttleless looms of this type have an outside source of filling, thatis, a supply not carried through the warp shed by a shuttle. The fillingis generally measured and cut to length to be inserted part way throughthe shed by a carrier on a flexible steel tape. The carrier is met by areceiving carrier on a second steel tape where the end of filling istransferred and drawn to the far side of the shed. Each steel tape isremovably attached to the outer rim of a tape wheel adapted to oscillateon opposing sides of the loom to insert and withdraw a pick of fillingin timed relationship with the other loom mechanisms.

The oscillation of a tape wheel is somewhat less than a full revolution,and the size of the wheel is such that, when a tape is partially wrappedaround the rim, the outward end of the tape will be completely withdrawnfrom the warp shed. a

Flexible steel tapes of the type shown in United States Patent No.2,604,123 will naturally assume a straight position in order .to performtheir function of inserting a length of filling. When the tape iswithdrawn and wrappeed around the periphery of the wheel andparticularly when the wheel reversesand inserts the tape into the shed,it is necessary to restrain this natural tendency to straighten and holdthe tape firmly against the Wheel.

Previous to the instant invention numerous methods had been used toaccomplish this restraint such as rollers, magnets, wooden blocks, andcurved plastic shoes. None of these have proven entirely satisfactoryas, in most cases, considerable wear is introduced, and friction andheat are generated through the pressure of the moving tape against therestraining means. Undesirable factors are thereby presented such asincreased power requirements, excess wear on driving and driven parts,the necessity for lubrication, and possibly inferior quality finishedproducts.

As will be shown, this invention holds a flexible tape in closeproximity to the rim of the tape wheel during ice oscillation in amanner to eliminate the undesirable features previously encountered.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to aspecific embodiment and one modification thereof as shown in theaccompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a loom to which the invention has beenapplied;

FIG. 2 is a view of one end of a loom with the parts enlarged ascompared to FIG. 1, and partially in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the upper portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the invention shownseparated from the loom;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified seating and tape guidingmember; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of FIG. 6 shown inperspective.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the invention refers to that type of loomdescribed in United States Patent No;

2,810,403 in which the filling yarn is taken from a source at the sideof the loom and picks of filling are inserted and extended through thewarp shed by opposing flexible spring steel tapes affixed to oscillatingtape Wheels positioned on opposite sides of the loom. Inasmuch as thepresent invention is applicable to both sides of the loom, it isconsidered necessary here to explain only one such mechanism. It shouldbe understood that the parts on the opposite side are similar to thosedisclosed.

The commonly known loom parts (FIG. 1) comprises loomsides 11 and 12, abreast beam 13, a front girt 14, and a top motion 15 with a top motionbracket 16 which support harness frames. 17 and 18. The woven fabric isrolled beneath the 106m as at 19. A camshaft 20 extends betweenloomsides and at each end a crank 21 is connected by a pitman 22 to acrosshead and rack 23 movable in a crosshead slide 24. The rackoscillates a gear 25 through an intermediate direction reversing gear26. (FIGS. 1 and 2.)

The gearing, crosshead, and rack are enclosed in a housing 27 which isinterconnected to a larger housing 28 which is fitted with a housingcover 29 when machine is in operation.

Gear 25 is keyed to the central part of a shaft 30 which has also keyedat one end a disk 31. Fastened to disk 31 in some manner, as with bolts32, is an oscillating wheel or sheave 33 of suitable light material suchasaluminum. Gear 25 imparts oscillating motion to wheel 33 through theshaft 30 as is described in United States Patent No. 2,888,956. Thehousings 27 and 28 and slide 24 are supported and held rigidly to theloomside by brackets 34 and 35.

Fastened at a point on the rim of tape wheel 33 by such means as a bolt36 is one end of a flexible member or spring steel tape 37. At theoutward end of each tape is attached a filling carrier 38 for eitherinserting or extending the filling yarn, depending upon which side ofthe loom it is used. (FIG. 5.)

Through the oscillation of wheel 33 in a partial revolution, tape 37 isadapted to be wrapped about the central plane of the rim of wheel 33.Upon reversal of direction of the tape wheel, the tape will leave thewheel at the high point of its circumference to be guided tangentiallyinto the Warp shed by a tape guide 39, there to meet its opposing tapemember near the center of the loom.

The tape wheels 33 on either side of the loom, when oscillatedsimultaneously, will extend opposing tapes 37 in a horizontal planestraight into the warp shed and are the means for inserting andextending the filling yarn for the formation of a fabric.

Reference to FIG. 2 shows that the end of tape 37 is at bolt 36 and thetape extends around the major circumference of wheel 33 and into thetape guide 39. The tape is at this point completely withdrawn from thewarp shed and the normal beat-up process takes place. The Wheel 33 willthen oscillate in aclockwise direction which will force tape 37horizontally into the warp shed. As this cycle of withdrawing andextending the tape will occur a number of times each second, it will beseen that the tape will tend to leave the rim of the tape wheelandendeavor to balloon to a larger circumference. The instant inventionis concerned with improving means for controlling this tendency.

Circumferentially spaced projections in the form of involute headedstuds 4t) (FIG. 3) are applied to the rim of the tape wheel 33. Thesestuds may be of various shapes and could he applied by other means andat other angles, but a preferred condition may be obtained by usingthreaded studs inserted into tapped holes concentric radially with thewheel. A separation between studs of about thirty degrees has been foundto be satisfactory for their purpose.

Centrally spaced along the length of tape 37 are perforations 41separated to match the distance between studs 4th. The perforationsshould be of a size to fully encompass stud 40 at its base withoutbinding. When wheel 33 is oscillated to withdraw tape 37 from the warpshed, the tape will lie flat against the outer rim of the tape wheelwith each stud 4% extending through the'tape' at a perforation 41.

As a means for seating the tape perforations 41 completely around eachstud and into contact with the tape wheel 33, an inverted U-shapedarcuate channel member 42 is mounted on housing 28 as with bolts 43.Channel member 42 is positioned to be a continuation of guide 39 and tofollow the arc of wheel 33 and is formed of an impregnated wood or othersuitable material. he U-shaped portion of channel member 42 forms apassage 44 through which the studs Ltd may pass unhindered and two lowertape seating surfaces 45 and 46 which press the tape into contact withthe tape wheel.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modified version with a seating and guiding member47 which may serve in place of tape guide 39 and channel member 42 andis formed as an elongated horizontal slide with retaining strips 43 and49 fastened thereto. The retaining strips act to seat and guide the tapeduring both the inserting and withdrawing portions of each cycle.

In order to review the operation, assume a shuttleless loom of the typedescribed has been started up for weaving. Tape wheels on either sideare set to oscillate through a definite predetermined arc in order toinsert two flexible steel tapes into the warp shed to a point where thefilling yarn is transferred from one carrier to. the other. On reachingthis point, the wheels reverse direction to withdraw the tapes and, inso doing, they are wrapped around the rim of the wheel. As the tape iswrapped about the wheel, the perforations along the length of the tapeare pressed over the studs which project from the rim.

With the tape in close contact with the surface of the,

wheel, the studs restrain it from any radial movement and at the time ofchange in direction, the tape does not tend to balloon away from thewheel.

With this invention rollers or tape shoes for controlling the tape arerendered unnecessary and numerous benefits are gained. It has been foundthat the power required to overcome the friction caused by tape shoesamounted to at least one-quarter of the power requirements for the wholeloom. Lubrication in this area is now greatly reduced or eliminated,resulting in savings in expense as well as a reduction in second qualitymaterial.

While one embodiment and a modification of the invention have beendisclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may becarried out in a number of Ways. This invention is, therefore, not to belimited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace allvariations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a shuttleless loom of the type having. a stationary fillingsupply, means for inserting and extending said filling through a Warpshed which includes filling carriers attached to the free ends offlexible tapes, oscillating tape wheels to which said tapes are attachedand upon which they are wrapped and from which they are extended intothe said shed by oscillation of said wheel, means for maintaining eachsaid tape in contact with each said wheel which comprises projectingmeans on the rim of said wheel, and perforations in said tape adapted toencompass said projecting means.

2. In a shuttleless loom of the type having a stationary filling supply,means for inserting and extending said filling through a warp shed whichincludes filling carriers attached to the free ends of flexible tapes,oscillating tape wheels to which the opposite end of each said tape isfixedly attached and upon which each said tape is wrapped and from whicheach is extended into the warp shed by oscillation of said wheel, meansformaintaining each said tape in contact with each said wheel whichcomprises projecting means connected to the rim of said wheel, andperforations in said tape adapted to encompass said projecting means.

3. In a shuttleless loom of the type having a stationary filling supply,means for inserting and extending said filling through a warp shed whichincludes filling carriers attached to the free ends of flexible tapes,oscillating tape wheels to which the opposite end of each said tape isfixedly attached and upon which each said tape is Wrapped and from whicheach is extended into the warp shedby oscillation of said wheel, meansfor maintaining each said tape in contact with each said wheel whichcomprises circumferentially spaced projections protruding from the outerrim of said wheel, and perforations in said tape adapted to encompasssaid projections.

4. In a shuttleless loom of the type having a stationary filling supply,means for inserting and extending said filling through a warp shed whichincludes filling carriers attached to the free ends of fiexible tapes,oscillating tape wheels to which the opposite'end of each said tape isfixedly attached and upon which each said tape is wrapped and from whicheach is extended into the warp shed by oscillation of said wheel, saidtape normally assuming a straight tangential position when extended,means for maintaining each said tape in contact with each said wheelwhen withdrawn from said shed which comprises circumferentially spacedinvolute headed studs outwardly protruding from the rim of said wheel,and perforations in said tape adapted to encompass said studs.

5. In a shuttleless loom of the type having means for inserting fillingfrom a stationary supply which comprises an oscillating wheel,circumferentially spaced projections protruding from said wheel, aflexible tape attached to and adapted to be wrapped about and extendedfrom said wheel by the oscillation thereof, spaced perforations in saidflexible tape, and means to encompass said projections by saidperforations.

6. In a shuttleless loom of the type having a stationary filling supply,means for inserting and extending said filling through a warp shed whichincludes filling carriers at tached to the free ends of flexible tapes,oscillating tape wheels to which the opposite end of each said tape isfixedly attached and upon which each said tape is Wrapped and from whicheach is extended into the warp shed by oscillation of said wheel, saidtape normally assuming a straight tangential position when extended,means for maintaining each said tape in contact with each said wheelwhen withdrawn from shed which comprises circumferentially spacedinvolute headed studs outwardly protruding from the rim of said wheel,perforations in said tape adapted to encompass said studs, and means forseating said tape perforations over said studs.

7. Mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said seating means defines aninverted U-shaped arcutate channel member positioned to deprms said tapeat initial point of wrapping about said Wheel to seat each saidperforation consecutively around a corresponding said stud.

8. In a shuttleless loom of the type having means for inserting fillingfrom a stationary supply into a warp shed which comprises an oscillatingwheel, circumferentially spaced projections protruding from said wheel,a flexible tape attached to and adapted to be Wrapped aboutand extendedfrom said wheel by the oscillation thereof, spaced perforations in saidflexible tape, and a seating and guiding member adapted to seat saidtape into contact with rim of said wheel while being wrapped and toguide said tape into the warp shed while being extended.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS681,004 Skinner et al. Aug. 10, 1901 1,683,955 Carrey Sept. 11, 19282,548,663 Fletcher et al. Apr. 10, 1951 2,604,123 Budzyna et al. July22, 1952 2,688,345 Werner et al Sept. 7, 1954 2,810,403 Sanderson et al.Oct. 27. 1957

1. IN A SHUTTLELESS LOOM OF THE TYPE HAVING A STATIONARY FILLING SUPPLY,MEANS FOR INSERTING AND EXTENDING SAID FILLING THROUGH A WRAP SHED WHICHINCLUDES FILLING CARRIERS ATTACHED TO THE FREE ENDS OF FLEXIBLE TAPES,OSCILLATING TAPE WHEELS TO WHICH SAID TAPES ARE ATTACHED AND UPON WHICHTHEY ARE WRAPPED AND FROM WHICH THEY ARE EXTENDED INTO THE SAID SHED BYOSCILLATION OF SAID WHEEL, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING EACH SAID TAPE INCONTACT WITH EACH SAID WHEEL WHICH COMPRISES PROJECTING MEANS ON THE RIMOF SAID WHEEL, AND PERFORATIONS IN SAID TAPE ADAPTED TO ENCOMPASS SAIDPROJECTING MEANS.